Community college offering Virtual Assistant certification

[Tess]

(This article was mentioned in another thread but is such a big deal in the industry, in my opinion, I wanted to give it it's own thread and open it up for discussion on it's own)

Now this was a really interesting piece of news - a community college is offering certificates in virtual assistance! It would seem that as the public becomes more educated about the VA industry these types of programs will become more popular, and even expected of VAs. As far as I know this is the first of it's kind, in terms of being offered at a state run institution for education - does this mean that eventually we'll have BAs in Virtual Assistance? Certainly an interesting (and likely?) possibility!

From HeraldNet:

'Entrepreneurs who want to create and run online service businesses can learn how to do it this fall at a new program at Everett Community College.

The college's 27-credit virtual assistant certificate will teach students how to become independent contractors who work remotely, offering skills and services online.

Lynne Munoz, director of the college's School of Business Design, said the program should be especially attractive to people who want or need to work from home.

The certificate program, which is itself offered online, will show students how to develop a business plan, determine what services to offer, market those services and launch the business.

"The possibilities are limitless and can be customized for each person's skills and life," Munoz said. "You don't have to leave the house to earn extra money."

Pat Sisneros, dean of the EvCC Business and Technology Division, noted that the virtual assistant concept should be a pretty low cost way to start a business, especially for people who already have a computer.

"You can start small, build a client base and go from there," he said. "Startup costs are minimum to none."

Sisneros said about 15 people have already signed up for the program. He noted he'd like to see about that many people completing the program on a regular basis. Classes start Sept. 24.

Munoz noted the program is very hands-on. "Every assignment is about putting (a student's business) together," she said. "The whole class is about getting them ready to go."

The program spans two college quarters. During the first one, students explore the virtual assistant idea, create marketing and business plans and learn how to conduct business online. In second quarter, students are provided Web space to develop their site, launch a business and begin daily operations with faculty support.

People who are interested in the program can call instructor Kathryn Willestoft at 425-388-9242 or visit www.everettcc.edu and search for "virtual assistant certificate."'

(source link)

[Virtual Horizons]

Red Deer College also offers a VA Certificate Course (I actually think they were the first either in the US or Canada to do so) which is taught by some leading VA's in the industry. As they are in my area I received their yearly continuing education booklet which is what got me initially exposed to the VA industry. It is great that they think it is a viable industry to promote. Because RDC also has a pretty good reputation in the community and they are offering this course it has opened doors to speak about what we do and that it is not a fly by night type of profession - it is here to stay.

Tammy Bryce

[Tess]

How interesting! Tammy - have you found that with the local exposure in your community of virtual assistants as a viable concept your marketing and outreach efforts are easier or at least impacted on some level?

[Kerans VA]

Red Deer College also offers a VA Certificate Course (I actually think they were the first either in the US or Canada to do so) which is taught by some leading VA's in the industry.
Tammy Bryce

Red Deer College, which is located here in Alberta, Canada, started a Virtual Assistant Certificate Program back in 2003. I thought it was an amazing program then, I hadn't heard of any other post-secondary institutions offering anything remotely similar to this program. Their press release states, "the Virtual Assistant program is the first program of its kind offered in Canada".

More recently, it also appears there is a Virtual Office Professional Certificate program offered by the American River College in California.

I think it shows great promise for the industry overall that VA programs are becoming more mainstream. Tess, I live a couple of hours from Red Deer and while we have an extremely internet-savvy population here due to the booming oil & gas industry, I still encounter that blank look on occasion when I mention the words 'Virtual Assistant'. On the other hand, I usually encounter very positive feedback with people who have heard of us!

[kathiemt]

I had a college here in Australia contact me about 2 or more years ago. They were wanting to provide a course as well for our industry and one of their teachers joined the forum I moderate so they could learn more about the industry. But she didn't stay around for long - I think she discovered that knowledge and experience is paramount to being able to provide suitable training, and this particular lady just did not have that behind her. I did try to tell her but ended up letting her join the forum so she could find out for herself.

Here in Australia there's a number of things that have to happen to get the course approved and a lot of hoops that need to be jumped. I expect it's probably the same in other countries. That's part of the reason why I ended up writing a course myself for delivery online, so that many prospective VAs here in Australia could get training too. Part of that process was joining a coaching association so I could be sure I had the support I needed. Even coaches need coaching and trainers need training on an ongoing basis.

I expect we'll see more and more colleges around the world start to provide training as they become more familiar with our industry. I periodically get student VAs contacting me for information for their studies and their homework.

[Virtual Horizons]

... we have an extremely internet-savvy population here due to the booming oil & gas industry, I still encounter that blank look on occasion when I mention the words 'Virtual Assistant'. On the other hand, I usually encounter very positive feedback with people who have heard of us!

Kate nailed it straight on. Alberta is a booming province however there are still those that think that it would be cheaper to have in-house rather than hire out to a VA. The people that have heard of a Virtual Assistant all have positive feedback to offer when you explain that you are a VA. What has opened doors is when you explain what it is that a VA does and that RDC offers it as a course program that lights go on for that person and makes what you are doing a 'real' job in their eyes.

Tammy Bryce

From what I have read so far, I really don't think it's a true VA program. To me it seems to be a Small Business Set Up program. When I think of VA's I think of someone offering a service that they are experienced in from home. Learning to do a business plan, figure out what field to target and what have you isn't training to be a VA to me. I think it should be called Small Business Start Up or something and maybe VA could be a subject or a topic touched as with other small business. JMO

[Tess]

That's a really good point TaCreacia, I hadn't thought of it that way.

[amybray]

This is really great to know. Although is having a VA cert necessary?

[becki]

A VA certification is not necessary to operate as a virtual assistant because the industry is unregulated.

-B